Tamila Dmytrivna Kiverova, Director of the Montessori School
Founders of small private kindergartens in Kyiv and the Kyiv region often ask me, as do people who only dream of opening their own: is it realistic to get state support in education? The answer changed on 9 September 2026, when the Government launched the updated Vlasna Sprava 2.0 (“Own Business 2.0”) programme. Now I can say yes, and the conditions for us have become noticeably better.
Two paths: open a kindergarten or grow an existing one
The new programme treats those who are just starting differently from those who are already operating.
If you are just opening a kindergarten or an early development centre, the “Business Start-up” track applies: a base amount of UAH 100,000–300,000, or up to UAH 500,000 with bonuses. You are not required to hire staff. You only need to register as a sole proprietor (FOP) or an LLC within 20 days of approval. For a mini-kindergarten or a single-group Montessori studio, that is a good start for materials and fit-out.
If your kindergarten is already operating, the “Business Scale-up” track applies: a base amount of UAH 0.5–1.5 million, or up to UAH 2.5 million with bonuses. Here you must create at least one new job.
The bonus that changes everything
Among the priority sectors that earn a +50% bonus, the state has listed preschool and out-of-school education. For comparison, the same list includes manufacturing, energy, IT and the defence industry. I see this as recognition that a good kindergarten is as important to the country’s recovery as a factory or a power plant. Parents can work only when they know their child is safe and developing.
Other bonuses may also apply to kindergartens:
- +5% if the founder is 18–25 years old;
- +20% for veterans, internally displaced persons (IDPs) with business experience, relocated businesses and VAT payers, as well as for creating two jobs;
- +30% for businesses in frontline areas and for restoring damaged property.
Bonuses add up, but the total cannot exceed UAH 500,000 for a start-up or UAH 2.5 million for scaling up. For example, a new kindergarten with a base amount of UAH 300,000 and the priority-sector bonus will receive UAH 450,000. If the founder is also an IDP, the amount reaches the UAH 500,000 cap.
What this looks like in a Montessori environment
A Montessori classroom is a prepared environment, and it is not cheap: sensorial materials, mathematical bead materials, practical life frames, child-sized furniture. Under the Vlasna Sprava 2.0 rules, up to 100% of the grant can go to equipment. Separately, you can cover up to 25% of premises rent, as well as part of the costs of software for record-keeping and communication with parents, a website and enrolment advertising.
What to keep in mind
I always advise colleagues to read not only about the amounts but also about the obligations:
- taxes and the unified social contribution (ESV) paid over the project period must at least equal the grant amount;
- new employees must be hired within 3 months and kept on for 18 to 54 months;
- if equipment is destroyed by shelling, the grant does not have to be repaid;
- if you have successfully completed a previous grant project, you can apply for a new one.
Also remember the educational side: a private preschool needs a licence, and the premises must meet sanitary and fire-safety requirements. The grant helps with money, but it does not replace this preparation.
Where to start
- Choose your track: start-up or scale-up.
- Work out which bonuses you qualify for.
- Draw up a budget that respects the spending limits for each category.
- Assess whether you can pay taxes equal to the grant amount.
- Apply through the Diia app (applications are already open via Sense Bank, with Oschadbank and PrivatBank to follow).
I firmly believe that the more high-quality private kindergartens Ukraine has, the more children will grow up in an environment that respects their independence. May this programme give your kindergarten a boost too.
Tamila Dmytrivna Kiverova, Director of the Montessori School